Polymeric replacement for a glass drinking container

ABSTRACT

A polymeric replacement vessel, or container, for glassware and glass containers and a method of making the same. polymeric drinking container simulates a glass drinking container having a glass drinking container volume. The polymeric drinking container comprises a base and an enclosed wall composed of the polymer. The wall is formed with the base and extends from the base while defining an opening opposite the base. The enclosed wall includes an inside surface and an outside surface. The base and enclosed wall form a polymeric drinking container volume made of the polymeric material. This polymeric drinking container volume is equal to the glass component drinking container volume plus an amount equal to the glass component drinking container volume multiplied times the ratio of the specific gravity of the glass to the specific gravity of the polymer.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of the following Provisional PatentApplication which is hereby incorporated by reference:

-   -   Provisional Patent Application No. 61/627,659 Filed Oct. 17,        2011 for:    -   “UTILITY FUNCTIONAL POLYMERIC REPLACEMENT FOR SODA LIME GLASS        AND/OR CONTAINERS AND/OR DRINKING GLASSES”

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patentfile or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to the use of a polymericmaterial to create a drinking container that is similar in functionalityto a glass drinking container without the drawbacks of the glassmaterial. More particularly, the current disclosure is directed at apolymeric drinking container, and a method of making the same, such thatthe drinking container has the same “weighted feel,” transparency, andrigidity as glass without having the brittle nature of glass.

It is known in the art to use glass material to make many itemsassociated with the consumption of food and beverages. These items aretypically containers or vessels that can fall into a multitude ofcategories including beverage containers and food containers. Numerouscategories of beverage containers include glassware and beverageware, ordrinkware. Which can be further described as barware, glassware,crystal, and stemware. Glassware can include beverage containers of allkinds and various plates, platters, pitchers, decorative items and thelike, used in the consumption of food and beverage.

The use of soda lime glass is typically the glass of choice in thesebeverage containers. The soda lime glass is an inorganic compositionthat is made up of typically inexpensive and readily availableingredients. This type of glass has many acceptable features that arebeneficial in these beverage containers. These acceptable featuresinclude exceptional transparency and clarity along with a Moh hardnessof 6.1 that provides scratch resistance. Soda lime glass has a densityof 2.52 grams per cubic centimeter, which yields a characteristic “heavyweighted feel” to a use of the glass beverage containers. Additionally,it has a high melting point (1024 degrees centigrade) which provides auseful resistance to wear and deterioration from household andcommercial cleaning products, surfactants and scrubbers.

Unfortunately, the soda lime glass has several unacceptablecharacteristics and features when used in beverage containers. Forexample, one huge issue is the fact that the soda lime glass is verybrittle and is thus prone to breaking. This breakage creates two issues:reduces the useful life span of the glass beverage containers andcreates a safety issue upon breakage.

Due to the brittle nature of the glass, the glass beverage containershave a tendency to break, sometimes in just normal handling andcleaning. This breakage requires employee to clean up the breakage andadditional supplies of the glass containers to replace the brokencontainers. This breakage reduces the useful life and increases the costfor those glass beverage containers.

Glass beverage containers also have potential health hazards due toshards, splinters, knife-like edge pieces, etc., that can pierce and cutthe skin. This hazard is so detrimental to workers and patrons in theUnited Kingdom that the British Government has instituted a directive toimprove the safety of glassware in restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs.The directive, issued in an article entitled “Design Out Crime,”includes a forward by Alan Campbell, the United Kingdom's ParliamentaryUnder Secretary of State, that article outlines the issues with glasscontainers, such as beer glasses or bottles. The article explained thatglass containers can be dangerous and cause many issue when accidentallybroken, but they can be a huge issue if purposely broken and used asweapons. In this article, the British Government asked for improvementsto the glass material or alternatives to the current glass material usedin drinking containers. The British Government asked for improvedglassware that increased the safe use of that glassware, while trying togive a similar drinking experience to the drinking consumer as thecurrent glassware.

Further, the actual brittleness of the glass requires the glass beveragecontainer to have a rounded thick lip at the open end, or mouth, inorder to protect a user from actually cutting themselves during properuse of that glass beverage container.

Additionally, soda lime glass is a high melting composition. Thisrequires high energy to manufacture the glasses, which again increasescosts. Additionally, the glass has a thermal conductivity thatfacilities a transfer of heat between the contents within the glass andthe external atmosphere. This leads to the glass “sweating” and“dripping” when filled with liquids that are colder than the ambient airtemperature. This “sweating” can cause the glass beverage container toslip or drop from the hand of a user when wet leading to the aforementioned breaking. Additionally, the “sweating” necessitates protectionfor whatever service upon which the glass is set in the form ofcoasters, beverage sleeves, table cloths, and even protective coatingson wood and the like. Again, this raises the dangers and associated costfor the restaurant, bar, pub, etc.

The move to polymeric material for glass replacement has been slow. Thisis due to the lack of the same experience provided to the drinkware userand the difficulties in the manufacturing of the polymeric material. Ina conventional molding operation, the mold is comprised of a cavity areaand a core area and divided into two halves. During the molding process,parting lines in the molded part are formed at the joints of the twohalves of the mold. This is due to a portion of thethermoplastic/polymeric material that is injected into the mold seepingthrough those joints. This creates “parting lines” which typically thenare removed during a finishing process that adds expense and can beathletically unappealing.

Another issue with conventional drinkware in restaurants, bars, pubs,and the like is the transport of those from location to location.Typically these drinking containers are moved stacked inside one anotherand yet are not designed to properly hold their position when sostacked. Typically these drinking containers have a single point ofcontact once stacked inside another container of a similar geometricshape. This facilitates sliding and movement of the top container withrespect to the bottom container. Once several of these drinkingcontainers are stacked on top of each other, the top containers tend toexaggerate this sliding movement and fall over to one side, typicallyfalling outside the footprint of the bottom container therefore causinga tumbling and/or falling effect of the stacked drinking containers.

What is needed then is an acceptable alternative to glass vessels orglass containers, especially for beverage containers or drinkware.Preferably these improved containers will have a clarity equivalent toglass along with a “weighted feel” that is similar to the glasscontainer that it replaces. Additionally, the improved container ispreferably shatter resistant, crush resistant and cleaning detergent anddishwasher safe. Additionally, the improved container preferably have aresistance to stress cracking and discoloration while having goodsurface aesthetics. The needed improved container is preferablycompliant with all regulations of the Food and Drug Administration andbe economically viable. This needed improved container for glasscontainers is lacking in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a polymeric replacement vessel, or container, forglassware and glass containers. Also included is a method of making sucha polymeric replacement container. The polymeric replacement containerincorporates the beneficial features of glass while substantiallyeliminating many of the non-beneficial features of glass when used insimilar containers. The polymeric container is both economically andfunctionally achievable through the use of thermoplastic materials andnovel architectural manufacturing techniques. Both clear thermoplasticmaterials and filled thermoplastic materials, those with additives, canbe utilized with the inventive architectural features to create thenovel and unique polymeric replacement containers.

The polymeric replacement container is preferably a polymeric drinkingcontainer and includes several characteristics similar to a glassdrinking container. These characteristics can be achieved through thedesign of the polymeric drinking container and the manufacturingprocesses used to create that polymeric drinking container.

The polymeric drinking container simulates a glass drinking containerhaving a glass drinking container volume. The polymeric drinkingcontainer comprises a base and an enclosed wall composed of the polymer.The wall is formed with the base and extends from the base whiledefining an opening opposite the base. The enclosed wall includes aninside surface and an outside surface. The base and enclosed wall form apolymeric drinking container volume made of the polymeric material. Thispolymeric drinking container volume is equal to the glass componentdrinking container volume plus an amount equal to the glass componentdrinking container volume multiplied times the ratio of the specificgravity of the glass to the specific gravity of the polymer.

The volume of the glass drinking container (ΔV_(G)) that is to bereplaced by the polymeric drinking container can be described as beingthe external volume of the glass container (EV_(G)) minus the internalvolume of the glass container (IV_(G)) as seen in the followingequation:

ΔV _(G) =EV _(G) −IV _(G)

Additionally, generally the volume of the polymeric drinking container(ΔV_(P)) can be described as the external volume of the polymericdrinking container (EV_(P)) minus the internal volume of the polymericdrinking container (IV_(P)), as shown in the following equation:

ΔV _(P) =EV _(P) IV _(P)

(Note IV_(P) is equal to IV_(G), since internal volume remainsunchanged) Since the specific gravity and/or density of the glass istypically greater than that of polymeric materials, in order to get anequal weight of the polymeric drinking container to the glass drinkingcontainer, which gives the “equal weighted feel” to the user, anadditional volume of the polymeric material is required in the polymericdrinking container. As such, the equivalent volume of polymeric materialcan be described as equaling the volume of the glass drinking container(ΔV_(G)) plus an ideal added volume of polymeric material (ΔV_(PE)).This added volume of polymeric material is the added volume of polymericmaterial that gives the equal “weighted feel” of the polymeric drinkingcontainer to that of the glass drinking container.

In actuality, the amount of polymeric volume added does not have toequate to this ideal added volume of polymeric material. For example,the actual added volume of polymeric material (ΔV_(PA)) used to simulatethe glass drinking container can range between 0.7 to 1.3 times theideal volume of added polymeric material (ΔV_(PE)). Alternate ranges caninclude 0.8 to 1.2 times the amount of ΔV_(PE), and 0.9 to 1.1 timesΔV_(PE). In a more preferred embodiment, the ΔV_(PA) ranges between 0.7and 1.0 times ΔV_(PE), more preferably between 0.8 to 1.0 times ΔV_(PE)and most preferably between 0.81 and 1.0 times ΔV_(PE).

Additionally, the polymeric drinking container can maintain designaesthetics and dimension ratios by proportionally increasing thedimensions of the polymeric drinking container in relation to the glassdrinking container. This increase of dimensions can take into accountthe square dependency of volume on the diameter of the polymericdrinking container and the linear dependency of volume on the length ofthe polymeric drinking container. In this polymeric drinking containerthe percentage of increase of added polymer material (ΔV_(P+)) withrespect to the external volume of the glass container (EV_(G)) can becalculated as follows:

${\Delta \; V_{P +}} = {\frac{\left( {{\Delta \; V_{PA}} - {\Delta \; V_{G}}} \right)}{{EV}_{G}} \times 100}$

This equation yields the percentage increase in the material volume toideally achieve the same “weighted feel” of the polymeric drinkingcontainer in relation to the glass drinking container being replaced.

Experimentation has also shown that the increases in the volume of thepolymeric material should preferably be proportionally divided betweenthe diameter and length of the polymeric drinking container to maintainthe similar user experience in that the polymeric drinking container inrelation to the glass drinking container being replaced. For example,the increase in the diameter and lengths of the polymeric drinkingcontainer can be increased as a factor of the percentage of increase ofadded polymer material (ΔV_(P+)). These increases can range between 0.25and 0.41 of the ΔV_(P+). More preferably, these increases are between0.30 and 0.36 of the ΔV_(P+)and preferably at 0.333 of the ΔV_(P+).

Additionally, a polymeric drinking container made in accordance with thecurrent disclosure is designed with little to no visible parting linesin the final drinkware. This can be accomplished during the moldingprocess by using additional cooling lines at the seams of the mold.Preferably the mold which can include the core and cavity, with the coremaking the internal shape of the container in which the liquid is heldduring use and the cavity establishing the external shape of thecontainer. The actual volume of the container is formed between thecavity and core using normal polymer/thermoplastic molding technologies.

However, in the current inventive design, cooling lines are spreadwithin the mold to help solidify the polymer/thermoplastic within thatmold. This design includes various independent cooling lines spreadthroughout the cavity and specifically calibrated to provide differenttemperatures at the location of the connection locations of the mold.These temperatures are such that the temperature of the cooling lines atthose mold assembly locations is less than the temperature of thecooling lines at the other cooling line locations within the mold and/orcavity. This reduced temperature at the traditional “parting line”location hastens the solidification of the thermoplastic/polymericmaterial within the mold at those locations. This early stagesolidification increases the viscosity of the polymeric material atthose locations thereby reducing and/or eliminating the movement of thepolymeric material in the cracks of the mold. This lack of movementreduces, or eliminates, the visible parting lines that plague a typicalthermoplastic mold parts. In turn, this removes the need for carryingout secondary finishing operations such as flame treatments, polishing,buffing, and the like.

Another feature of a polymeric replacement container made in accordancewith the current disclosure includes a multiple over molded container.In this embodiment a fixed core is used as a first layer or first volumeof the container. That core is inserted into incrementally increasingcavities where additional over molded layers or volumes of polymericmaterial are applied to the core layer. Each layer can be allowed tocool and solidify into a piece that is removable. Each subsequent layercan then be inserted into another incrementally larger cavity and anadditional layer of polymeric material can be overmolded onto the firsttwo layers. This process can continue until these desired volume andweight are achieved. This process can allow the insertion of decorativedesigns and visual markings within the layers in between theirapplications. These techniques can include the insertion of indicia,such as messages and logos in between the layers as well as theinclusion of patterns, colors, alternate materials, and the like inbetween the various layers. There can also be included various markers,thermochromatic elements and the like within the various layers. Forexample, thermochromatic layers that are responsive to temperaturechange can be inserted in between the core and the second layer tobenefit the most from the temperature change by the addition of a coolor hot liquid within the container. Also various diffraction patternscan be included on the outer layers which maximize the light diffractionwhich allows an aesthetically pleasing look without compromising theinternal integrity of the container made with the overmolded layers.

Additionally, a primary replacement container in accordance with thecurrent disclosure can be made by the use of a single core segment togenerate a family of products. In this embodiment the same core can beused to form a base drinking vessel, such as a stemless wine glass, andthen through the use of an over-molding process various stem lengths canbe added as desired. These stem lengths can create a short stem, astandard stem, or a long stem to simulate standard wine glasses,chalices, fine crystal glasses and the like.

Additionally, an embodiment of the polymeric replacement container canhave physical characteristics that allow secured stacking of thosecontainers.

The improved polymeric drinking container includes external and internalgeometric shapes such that a portion of the lower outside diameter islarger than a portion of the internal diameter of a container.Additionally, the angle of the inside diameter with respect to the baseof the container can be approximately equal to the angle of the outsidediameter with respect to the base of the container. In this design, theangles of the outside and inside diameters will substantially match suchthat as the two containers are inserted one in the other the outsidediameter of the first container will engage a portion of the insidediameter that substantially matches its angle in relation to the baseand its diameter. This increases the surface contact between the stackedpolymeric drinking containers thereby reducing the toppling effect andallowing easy transport of the polymeric drinking containers in such afashion.

It is therefore a general object of the current disclosure to provide animproved polymeric replacement container for a glass container.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an improvedpolymeric drinking container.

Still another object of the current invention is to provide a polymericcontainer that has beneficial characteristics of a glass container whilereducing or eliminating non-beneficial characteristics.

Yet another object of the current disclosure is to provide a polymericcontainer that has the “weighted fill” of a glass container.

Another object of the current disclosure is to provide a polymericcontainer that has little to no visible parting lines from themanufacturing process.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art uponreading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of a polymeric container made inaccordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a view similar to FIG. 1A showing a relation of the internalvolume within the container.

FIG. 1C is a side view of a container as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 1D is a cross sectional view taken along Line AA in FIG. 1C.

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway illustration of polymeric containers made inaccordance with the current disclosure in a stacked relationship.

FIG. 3A is a side view of an alternate polymeric container made inaccordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a side view similar to FIG. 3A showing the internal volume ofthe polymeric container.

FIG. 3C is a top view of the container shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a bottom view of the container shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of an alternate polymeric containermade in accordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a top view of the container shown in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4D is a cross sectional view along Line A-A in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 5A is a side view of an alternate container made in accordance withthe current disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a cross sectional view taken along Line B-B of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a top perspective view of a polymeric container made inaccordance with the current disclosure.

FIG. 6B is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a cross sectional view taken along Line A-A of FIG. 6B.

FIG. 6D is a side view of the container shown in 6A shown in a stackedrelationship.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a mold showing a process of making apolymeric container in accordance with the current disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring generally now to the Figures, a polymeric container can beshown and generally illustrated by the numeral 10. The containerincludes a base 12 and an enclosed wall 14. The enclosed wall 14 can beformed with the base 12 and extends from the base 12 and defines anopening 16, or a mouth 16, opposite the base 12. The wall includes aninside surface 18 and an outside surface 20.

The polymeric material is preferably a thermoplastic and can be a clearengineering thermoplastic or a filled engineering thermoplastic. Forexample a clear engineering thermoplastic can include PET, PETG, SAN,PC, TPX, PVC, and the like. The filled engineering thermoplastics can bethermoplastics, such as can be polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, PVC,and the like, filled with additives such as Mica, Calcium Carbonate,Talc, Aluminum Silicate, and the like. Either of these thermoplasticscan be the molded compounds used to form the container structures andbase. Further, the base can be intricately molded with a heavy walledstreamlined configuration. This facilitates the elimination of voidsduring the melting and formation processing, including the cooling ofthe base during the manufacture. Alternately, the base can beintricately molded around an insert or filler that is suitably sized andshaped to provide part of the weight of the base.

The polymeric container 10 is preferably a drinking container, ordrinkware, as used to hold a liquid for consumption by a user. Thepolymeric container 10 is designed to simulate a glass container andprovide a similar user experience as the glass container without havingvarious drawbacks of that glass container. Given the variations and theproperties of glass and polymers, alterations in the polymeric containerdesign are used to provide that same “user experience” as the glasscontainer.

For example, the polymeric drinking container as composed of the baseand enclosed wall, has a polymeric drinking container volume of thepolymeric material that simulates the drinking glass container volumefor which it replaces. This polymeric drinking container volume isapproximately equal to the glass drinking container volume plus theadded volume of polymer material needed to achieve the approximateequivalent weight of the glass container in the polymeric container.This added volume is approximately equal to the volume of the glass,which is the external volume of the glass container minus the internalvolume of the glass container, multiplied times the ratio of specificgravity of the glass to the specific gravity of the polymer chosen.

Table 1 includes a listing of specific gravities of some polymers thatcould be used to create the polymeric drinking container as disclosed.The volume of polymeric material used to create a polymeric drinkingcontainer made in accordance with the current disclosure can beconfigured based upon the specific gravity ratio of the glass of thecontainer of which is replaced, typically soda lime glass, in relationto the specific gravity of the polymer/thermoplastics chosen for thepolymeric container.

In a preferred embodiment this volume of polymeric material isconfigured such that the weight of the polymeric container almostexactly equals the weight of the glass container being replaced. Inactuality though, experiments have shown that a different volume ofadded polymeric material that is actually used (ΔV_(PA)) will work, givemore than satisfactory results, and maintain both functionality andeconomic viability. This range of ΔV_(PA) can be expressed as apercentage amount of the ideal volume of polymeric material used addedto the initial starting volume to create the desired polymericcontainer.

The starting point to establish the ideal volume for the polymericreplacement container (ΔV_(PE)) begins with the volume of the glasscontainer that is to be replaced. This volume can be expressed as thevolume of glass of the container (ΔV_(G)) which equals the externalvolume of glass (EV_(G)) minus the internal volume of glass (IV_(G)).With this as the starting volume, the amount added to the composition ofthe polymeric container in order to establish a comparable weightbetween the polymeric container and the glass container can be explainedas follows. The polymeric materials are typically less dense than theglass used in conventional glass containers. As such, an additionalvolume of the polymeric material is required to establish the same“weight feeling” in the polymeric container to satisfy the end user ofthe polymeric container when that end user is used to and comfortablewith the glass container. This additional added volume can be describedas the added volume of polymeric material needed to achieve anequivalent weight feeling in the container in comparison to a glasscontainer (ΔV_(PE)). This amount of ideal added polymeric material tocreate the equivalent weight of the glass container in the polymericcontainer can equal the volume of glass (ΔV_(G)) in the original glasscontainer multiplied times the ratio of the specific gravity of theglass to the specific gravity of the polymer.

It has been discovered that the exact equivalent is not necessary assuch a range of volume actually added is preferred and within the scopeof this disclosure. This volume range can be expressed in a range, orpercentage of the ideal volume of polymer to be added (ΔV_(PE)). Forexample, one range of acceptable (ΔV_(PA)) includes 0.7 to 1.3 of the(ΔV_(PE)). Preferably this range is 0.8 to 1.2 (ΔV_(PE)) and morepreferably 0.9 to 1.1 (ΔV_(PE)). In a more preferred embodiment thepercentage of actual volume of the polymeric material added (ΔV_(PA)) isactually less than the ideal amount of polymer used to equate the weightto the glass (ΔV_(PE)). In this embodiment, there are ranges that arepreferred including a range of 0.7 to 1.0 ΔV_(PE), and preferably 0.8 to1.0 ΔV_(PE). In a most preferred embodiment, the value of ΔV_(PA) isbetween 0.81 and 1.0 ΔV_(PE).

Another feature of a polymeric container made in accordance with thecurrent disclosure is the overall aesthetic feel and look as used by theconsumer to partake of the liquid stored therein. It has been discoveredthat an adherence to a dimension ratio helps facilitate this aestheticlook and feel to the user. Since the overall volume of the polymericcontainer is increased in comparison to the glass container, anadjustment in the ratios of the diameter and length of the polymericcontainer are required. As such, a polymeric drinking container hasincreased dimensions in both diameter and length in comparison to theglass container to which it replaces. The adherence to the comparisonratios in diameters and length of the polymeric container with respectto the glass container maintains an overall dimensional feel and look inthe polymeric container that is appeasing to the end user.

For example, the percentage increase of additional polymer with respectto the external volume of the glass container that is replaced can beindicated by ΔV_(P+). This number can be calculated by taking the volumeof added polymer actually used (ΔV_(PA)) and subtracting out the volumeof the glass container that is replaced (ΔV_(G)) and dividing that sumby the external volume of the original glass container (EV_(G)). Thatnumber is then multipled by 100 to obtain the percentage increase in thematerial volume needed to achieve the weighted feel of the polymericcontainer. From this percentage, the amount increase in diameter andlength of the polymeric container is determined.

For example, the percentage increase in the diameter and length can bebetween 0.25 and 0.14 of ΔV_(P+), more preferably between 0.30 and 0.36ΔV_(P+) and most preferably at 0.333 ΔV_(P+). Alternately stated, theratio of diameters to the polymeric container is ⅓ larger than thediameter of the glass container to which it is simulating.Correspondingly, the length of the polymeric container is ⅓ larger thanthe length of the glass container to which it replaces.

Another feature of the polymeric drinking container is the gradualincreased thickness of the enclosed wall 14 from the opening 16 to thebase 12. This gradual increase also facilitates the overall weightedfeel of the polymeric container in comparison to the glass containerwhich it replaces. This programmed and controlled thickness increasefacilitates the clear appearance of the polymeric container once formedand facilitates sufficient rigidity in the polymeric drinking containerto withstand its use as a drinking vessel. In a most preferredembodiment, the thickness of the walls of the polymeric container inrelation to the glass container follows the same ratios as describedabove in reference to ΔV_(P+).

A polymeric drinking container made as just described will have severaladvantages which include a gradual uniformly increasing side wallthickness. This allows a functional transparency and clarity when thepolymeric material is selected as a clear engineering thermoplastic.Additionally, there will be a lack of obvious or unwanted disruptions oflight due to refraction or transmission in the polymeric container soconstructed. Additionally, the polymeric container as mentioned has aweight that substantially matches, or simulates, that of the glasscontainers but has a rigidity and resistance to crunching that matches,or in most cases exceeds, that of glass containers. Typically therigidity is proportional to the cube of the container sidewall thicknessmultiplied times the material modulus. In this instance, the polymericmaterial has increased rigidity and the gradual increase in the sidewallthickness along with the aforementioned dimensional adjustments andvolume metric adjustments, has a profound effect on the containerresistance to breaking and fragmenting. These engineered thermoplasticsin the container have an excellent toughness and are resistant to abusewhile having increased their durability. The thermoconductivity of thepolymeric container is improved thus providing an approved coolingcapacity for the polymeric container in relation to the glass container.This is facilitated by the material used and also in the increased wallthickness of the polymeric material and the polymeric container sincethe diffusion of heat is proportional to the square of the containerwall thickness. In addition, there is a reduced tendency for moisturecondensation on the outside of the polymeric container due to thisimproved cooling capacity. Additionally, there is an improved balance inresisting to tipping or toppling due to the predominance of thepolymeric container weight being distributed towards the bottom portionor bottom half of the polymeric container.

In this container, the average container wall thickness of the polymericcontainer is proportional to the ratio of the specific gravity of theglass, such as 2.52 for soda lime glass, to that of the polymericmaterial selected, typically between 0.85 to 1.4 for thosethermoplastics listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3. Additionally, since the wallthickness in the polymeric container is proportional and gradual alongthe length of the container, a majority of the weight ends up in thelower half of the polymeric container. This again improves the balanceof the container and resistance to tipping and/or toppling.

Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of thepresent invention of a new and useful POLYMERIC REPLACEMENT FOR A GLASSDRINKING CONTAINER it is not intended that such references be construedas limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth inthe following claims.

TABLE 1 Average Thickness Needed to Achieve “Weighted Glass” FeelAssumption: Equivalent Soda Line Glass has an Average Thickness of 0.10in. Average Wall Thickness Material Specific Gravity (inches) PET 1.36.185 PC 1.20 .210 SAN 1.07 .235 TPX .85 .296 PVC 1.40 .180 40% FILLEDPOLYPRO 1.23 .205

TABLE 2 COMPARATIVE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SODA LINE GLASS AND CLEARENGINEERING THERMOPLASTICS MATERIAL SODA PROP- LINE ERTY UNITS GLASS PETSAN PC TPX Density Grms/CC 2.52 1.4 1.07 1.2 0.85 Tensile Psi × 10⁶ 10.2.45 0.52 0.35 0.20 Mod- ulus Tensile Psi × 10³ 4.79 3.0 10.0 9.0 3.4Strength Hard- Molt or R MOH 6.1 70 R 86 R 70 R 60 R ness 1200 Ft.Lbs/in. <0.1 1.4 0.6 >10 0.8 Impact Melt/ ° C. 724 150 150 130 130 Soft-ening Point Thermal W/m · K 1.1 0.31 0.30 0.32 0.28 Con- duc- tivityClarity Obs Excellent Very Very Very Excellent Good Good Good Chem- ObsExcellent Very Fair Good Excellent ical Good Resis- tance Scratch ObsExcellent Good Very Good Good Resis- Good tance

TABLE 3 COMPARATIVE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SODA LINE GLASS AND 40%FILLED POLYPROPYLENES MATERIAL SODA PP PP PP PP PROP- LINE WITH WITHWITH WITH ERTY UNITS GLASS MICA CaCO₃ TALC NYOLYN Density Grms/CC 2.521.24 1.22 1.24 1.22 Tensile Psi × 10⁶ 10.2 0.45 0.42 0.47 0.50 ModulusTensile Psi × 10³ 4.79 4.5 4.2 4.7 4.9 Strength Hardness MOH or R MOH 89R 90 R 99 R 100 R 6.1 1Z00 Ft. Lbs/in. <0.1 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.6 Impact Melt/° C. 724 120 120 120 120 Softening Point Thermal W/m · K 1.1 0.33 0.310.35 0.32 Con- ductivity Chemical Obs Excel- Very Very Very VeryResistance lent Good Good Good Good Scratch Obs Excel- Good Fair GoodGood Resistance lent

What is claimed is:
 1. A polymeric drinking container simulating a glassdrinking container having a glass drinking container volume, thepolymeric drinking container comprising: a base composed of the polymer;an enclosed wall composed of the polymer, the wall formed with the base,extending from the base, defining an opening opposite the base; whereinthe base and enclosed wall form a polymeric drinking container volume ofpolymeric material that is approximately equal to the glass drinkingcontainer volume plus an added amount of the glass drinking containervolume multiplied times the ratio of specific gravity of the glass tothe specific gravity of the polymer.
 2. The drinking container of claim1, wherein the glass is soda lime glass
 3. The drinking container ofclaim 1, wherein the enclosed wall includes an inside surface definingan inside volume and an outside surface defining an outside volume andthe polymeric drinking container volume is the difference betweenoutside volume and the inside volume.
 4. All novel features disclosedherein.